FRIEDMAN and ROSENMAN: studied the relationship between BEHAVIOURAL PATTERNS and VULNERABILITY TO STRESS RELATED ILLNESS
What is TYPE A?
Behaviour of those who:
-->constantly under pressure
-->competative
-->multi-task
-->frustrated by others efforts easily
Stress and Cardio-Vascular disorders:
Aim: To investigate the relationship between Type A Behaviour and cardiovascular diseases
Procedures:
-Structured Interviews: 3,200 Californian men 39-59
-They were given labels: Type A, Type X (middle ground), Type B (opposite to Type A behaviour)
-Followed for 8.5 years to assess their lifestyle/health
Findings: 257 men developed heart disease, (70% of these were TYPE A two times that of type B)
-Difference in group findings were independent of lifestyle factors, which can increase chances of heart disease
Conclusion: Type A behaviour increases heart disease vulnerablility
Behaviour modification programmes for Type A's could reduce heart disease risk
Criticism:
-Other factors may have contributed to vulnerability--> hardiness
-Not experimental study: No cause-effect can be assumed
Which factors must be considered?
1) INCONSISTENT RESEARCH SUPPORT: Studies have shown very different things: some supportive of Friedman and Rosenman, some negative which leads to the questioning of Type A behaviours value
2)HOSTILITY: High levels of hostility--> high level of Type A thus Cardiovascular Heart disease correlation increases
3)TYPE A HARDINESS: The type A behaviour may work in the individuals favour, coping well with pressure and competativeness-resistent to the effects of stress
4)PROTECTIVE FACTORS: Type A individuals may score highly on protective factors such as COMMITTMENT AND CONTROL. Also phsycial activity and social networking may help reduce the effects.
HARDY PERSONALITIES AND STRESS:
Personalities that are hardy act as a defence against negative effects of stress, this idea was studied by KOBASA
1) CONTROL, 2) COMMITTMENT, 3)CHALLENGE
1)One having control over their own life and not outside factors
2)Felling involvement in the world around you e.g. interacting with work mates and not just passive
3)Viewing life changes as POSITIVE CHALLENGES, not NEGATIVE STRESSORS, understanding life isn't stress free
What is KOBASA's evidence for this?
Those with hardier personalities had lower levels of stress related illness risk. Positive mindframe, situations aren't seen as stressful.
What were KOBASA's other findings?
KOBASA felt other factors were involved with stress management. KOBASA ET A. studied the absense of these 3 factors:
1) HARDINESS, 2) SOCIAL SUPPORT 3)REGULAR EXERCISE
--> Participants with NONE of these factors were at RISK
--> Participants with ALL of these factors were LOWEST RISK
Criticisms of KOBASA?
1) Participants: white coller working males- We cant generalise (women are different)
2)Personality components: Control, committment and challenge may not be clearly defined. KOBASA may be focusing on control and not PERSONALITY as a whole.
What is the connection between Gender and Stress?
There is no evidence to show the stress levels of the two sexes are any different, yet there are some difference reguarding STRESS RESPONSE.
What gender differences are there?
1)PHYSIOLOGICAL REACTIVITY: FRANKENHAEUSER ET AL.: Found in examinations, BOYS: rapid increase in adrenaline levels that took longer to reduce to longer. GIRLS: Small, slow increase in hormone levels which lowered more rapidly.
Support: STONEY ET AL: women had a smaller blood pressure increase when doing a stressful task than men.
--> womens HPAC and ANS pathways may be less reactive
-->the attitude of men towards these tasks may create higher levels of arousal
2)Men show higher stress-related physiological arousal, thus they should be more vulnerable to stress-induced illness
-->Other factors such as BUFFERS are involved, thus this isn't the case e.g. gender diff. in coping stratergies Men: physical Women: social
CULTURAL ASPECTS: When going through issues, African americans, Hispanics and Asians turned to families yet Caucasians turned friends.
-->Genetic inheretance, diet, lifestyle: methods of coping may vary in each country
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